Pathophobia | Fear of Suffering and Disease

(pa-tho-fo-be-ah)

What is Pathophobia?

Pathophobia, also spelled “Panthophobia”, is the abnormal and irrational fear of suffering and disease. Pathophobics may also develop the related Germophobia, a fear of germs. This phobia is classified as a specific phobia, one that can cause sufferers to live in seclusion for fear of contracting any illness or “becoming contaminated”.

It originates from the Greek word 'pathos' meaning 'suffering' or 'disease' and the word 'phobia' comes from the Greek word ‘phóbos’ meaning 'fear.'

Causes of Pathophobia

Pathophobia is a specific (or “isolated”) phobia, centered on non-social key factors. Isolated phobias tend to have some previous trauma (often in childhood and often physically injurious) as a root cause; a fear of bees may stem from an injury in childhood, for instance.

Upbringing can also play a role, such as parental warnings about a direct threat (such as “snakes can bite and kill you”) which is especially notable in cases where a threat is more imminent. (An allergy to bees or peanut butter, for instance, would naturally reinforce a real medical concern.)

It is thought that genetics and hereditary factors may play a role in specific phobias, especially those related to a danger of injury. (A primal “fight or flight” reflex may be more easily triggered in those with a genetic predisposition, for instance.)

By contrast, social phobias (like a fear of body odor or touch) are less well-understood, are driven by social anxiety, and are broadly labeled as “social anxiety disorder”.

In all kinds of phobias, external experiences and / or reports can further reinforce or develop the fear, such as seeing a family member or friend who is affected. In extreme cases, indirect exposures can be as remote as overhearing a reference in conversation, seeing something in the news, on TV, or in the movies.

Pathophobia, like most phobias, stems from a subconscious overprotection mechanism, and as with many phobias can also be rooted in an unresolved emotional conflict.

A Pathophobic may develop their fears in tandem with a fear of germs, hospitals, death, hell, or heaven.